Day 283 of the podcast, reading Mark 4-5 NET, read along at:
https://netbible.org/bible/Mark+4-5/
This is day 283 of our journey.
One of the hallmarks of Jesus ministry is the parables that he used to teach the people. In Mark 4, we read many of these parables. This style of teaching uses common and well-understood visual imagery to tell a story that explains a deeper concept. Parables require the listener to apply extra effort to truly understand but, once that effort is applied, they allow new and difficult concepts to be more fully grasped. Mark 5 touches on another main aspect of Jesus' ministry, his healing power. Jesus heals a demon possessed man, causing a vicious strong man to become gentle and stable. This man desires to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him that he needs to return to his own community and tell his family and friends what the Lord has done for him. This is a contrast to the next healing that takes place. Jesus raises a young girl from the dead, but then tells them NOT to let anyone know about it. Jesus recognized that an early pronouncement of him as Messiah would be misunderstood by the people. He wanted them to know the truth of his ministry firsthand.
Join me in Mark 4-5 for the teachings and the power of Jesus!
Key verses:
Mark 4:34
He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.
Mark 5:19
But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.”
All Scriptures are from the NET.
